- provender
- 1306, "allowance paid each chapter member of a cathedral," from Anglo-Fr. provendir, O.Fr. provendier, from Gallo-Romance *provenda, alt. (by influence of L. providere "supply") from L.L. prębenda "allowance, subsistence," from L. prębenda "(things) to be furnished," neut. pl. gerundive of prębere "to furnish, offer," from prę- "before" + habere "to hold" (see habit). Meaning "food, provisions, etc." (esp. dry food for horses) is recorded from 1340.